The times., 1887-08-26
The old "vets." at Ionia.

Soldiers and Sailors Association OF
Central Michigan, was like all pre-
ceding ones, decided success. There
seems to be sufficient executive ability
in the association to compel success.
Ionia has advantages for a meeting
Of the kind, exceeding any place
where it has yet been held. The place
selected for tentlng was simply perfect,
with the Grand River yielding all
unlimited supply for washing purposes,
in the rear of the quarters; the broad,
level parade ground in front; the
grove on the left, and the buildings
of the Agricultural association, tor
use as store rooms for the quarter
master and commissary. departments,
nothing remained to wish for in the
line of location. The city was taste
fully though not expensively decorat-
ed.
Quartermaster Daboll had, with
his usual zcal and attention to duty,
got everything in readiness so that
members OF the Association had moth
ing to do on their arrival but march
TO the quarters assigned them and
unpack. In short, the local COM
mittee had we'll discharged the duty
Of preparing the grounds and the
arrangements were complete. The
brigade headquarters were not cen
trally located however, and were so
far from the entrance that it was
quite tramp for posts arriving on
the grounds and for posts located
towards the right of the line to COM
municate with headquarters; but then
perhaps It was "military," and it GER
tainly relieved headquarters from the
necessity of answering thousands of
questions.
Quackenbush Post ao5 was as
usual first on the ground SO as to get
the benefit of the entire show.
The features of the reunion were
the regimental reunions (those of
the 9th Cav. and 9Th Inft. being the
largest), the dress parades which were
large and imposing, the parade of the
Relief Corps 500 strong, the speeches
which were excellent, evening con-
certs by the Arion glee club of Ionia,
and last but not least the grand pa.
rade and review. This was specta-
Gle to be witnessed but once in a life
time and perhaps the largest of its
kind ever held in Michigan, led by
department commander of the 6. A.
r J.. G.. Rutherford and staff, ac-
companied by brigade headquarters
ard followed by the young ladies'
band of Grand Ledge, band from
Alma, one from Portland and the
Ovid cornet band, and the Ionia light
guard militia company, in the order
named, then came the Old Soldiers
and Sailors of the association, the
several regiments in numerical order
led by Coils. D. S. Smith, E. M.
Allen and E. F. Grabill.
The colonel of the first regiment, at
the head of his veteran legion, mount
ed on his fiery steed, an untamed
descendant of the famous Bucephalous
of Alexander (for pedigree see P. M.
RowelD, whose neck was clothed with
thunder (and shoulders with raw
spots) and who continually said cha
ha," among the trumpeters, and who
manifested an earnest desire TO travel
on both sides of the street at the
same time, Col. Smith presented
sight never to be forgotten; while
Major Wells B. Fox, regimental sur
geon with his hospital steward, COM
rade Geo. Parker, of Bancroft, with
hospital department brought up the
rear Of the regiment in splendid style
to the no small satisfaction of the
admiring crowd Of spectators. Quack.
enbush Post 2o5 received many we'll
deserved compliments for their fine
appearance, and also first prize for
best uniformed post in the parade,
The attendance of old "Vets" seemed
to be about the same in number as at
Owosso last year but the number of
spectators and visitors seemed con-
sideraby less.
Early Thursday p. M, posts began
to break camp, and by S o'clock the
grounds were comparatively deserted
by them. But, all in all, the "boys"
had a good time and will long remem-
Der their trip to Ionia. The next
reunion will be held at Greenville;
possibly not the best place, but it was
so ordered. AN OLD VET.
Toe slippers and walking shoes, in